His friends nodded, but no one smiled. A heavy sense of gloom penetrated the air and William’s heart threatened to sink lower still as he fought to cling to his hope that he would restore his fortune soon enough.
I will find out who did this. And I shall not remain in their grip for long.
Chapter Two
“Ihear you are soon to be betrothed.”
Alice smiled at her friend, but Lady Florence did not smile back.
“Yes, I believe that it is to be so. My father has not yet made all the arrangements.”
There was not even a flicker of happiness in her eyes or a hint of a smile on her lips.
“Whatever is the matter? I thought you liked Lord Foster?”
“He is a pleasant gentleman, certainly.”
Frowning, Alice tipped her head.
“He has been courting you since near the beginning of the Season. Surely you did not expect him to do anything other than consider betrothal?”
Lady Florence still did not smile.
“I quite comprehend him, and you are quite right. He is a gentleman and is behaving as such. I ought to be pleased.” Shrugging one delicate shoulder, she looked away. “Foolishly, I thought I should have a little more time before finding myself a betrothed young lady.”
“I think you should be very pleased. Lord Foster is an excellent gentleman by all accounts. I have only been introduced to him, and have had no conversation whatsoever, but he appeared to be an amiable sort. He has excellent standing as a Viscount and, I believe, an exceptional fortune.”
Lady Florence nodded but dropped her gaze to the floor without saying a word. Lady Florence had always been a quiet young lady and tended towards personal introspection, never truly being open with Alice about her feelings on any particular subject.
“We have been friends for a long time, have we not?” Alice kept her voice soft, placing a hand on Lady Florence’s arm. “We do not often speak of our hearts, but I do want you to know that I am ready to listen, should you have anything more to say.”
Lady Florence immediately looked up.
“What do you mean?”
There was something else winding through Lady Florence’s voice, but thus far Alice could not make out what it might be.
“I did not mean anything by the question. It was only to state that, should you have something more you wish to express, if there was some other reason that you did not wish to become betrothed to Lord Foster, then I would be more than willing to listen without judgment or astonishment.” Shrugging her shoulders, Alice gave her friend as warm a smile as she could manage. “That is all.”
“No, there is nothing.” A thin-lipped smile bit at Lady Florence’s mouth, but it did nothing to warm her eyes. “You have heard the truth of it. I did not wish to become betrothed so soon, but this is my second Season, and I should have expected as much from my father. He thinks very highly of Lord Foster.”
“As is to be expected. You are very lucky indeed, my dear friend. Not all young ladies are as fortunate as you in finding a gentleman who is eager to marry them, so soon into their second Season.”
This, in turn, sent a flare into Lady`s Florence’s eyes.
“You do not mean to say that you have any concerns for yourself, my dear Alice?” Suddenly, the conversation was turned from Lady Florence to Alice’s situation. “The Season has only just begun. You cannot expect to find a husband as quickly as I have done so. My father’s determination that I should wed as quickly as possible accounts for Lord Foster’s interest. Your father, it seems, has no such concern.”
Alice smiled softly to disguise the pain that ripped through her heart.
“Yes, you are quite right in saying so.” She had not yet told Lady Florence that her father had stated that she wouldhaveto find a husband come the end of the Season, else be sent to an older aunt living in the far south of England, to act as her companion. It did not help that her father did very little to encourage her, nor to aid her in finding a match. And her mother was quite taken up with her youngest daughter who was, of course, the beauty of the family, and therefore worth a much more effort in terms of making a good match.Shewas the one expected to make an excellent match, whereas Alice, on the other hand, was expected to make very little of herself. “I hope I shall soon have the same good fortune as yourself.” She linked her arm with Lady Florence, and they began to wander through the drawing room. “Mayhap there shall be a gentleman here this evening who will catch my attention!”
Lady Florence smiled, her eyes clear. It seemed that in only a few moments she had forgotten about her betrothal to Lord Foster and was now thinking solely about Alice.
“You may not think it, my dear friend, but you are very beautiful. I am sure that there will be at least one gentleman present who will be eager to be in your company.”
Alice shook her head.
“You need not pretend, Lady Florence. I am aware that I am a little plain. I do not have my sister’s hazel eyes that swirl with green and brown. Unfortunately, I am left with my father’s grey eyes, which appear clouded and shadowed no matter how I am feeling. Nor do I have her slim figure and beautiful golden curls. Again, my father has blessed me with his dark hair that does not like to sit in curls and insists on remaining quite straight.”